Inhibition of replication of fresh HIV type 1 patient isolates by a polypurine tract-specific self-complementary oligodeoxynucleotide.

A previously described self-complementary oligodeoxynucleotide termed triplex-forming oligodeoxynucleotide (TFO A), 54 bases in length, designed against the polypurine tract of HIV-1 RNA, inhibited viral replication at a 1 to 3 microM concentration in acutely infected cells, whereas antisense and scrambled sequence oligodeoxynucleotides were ineffective. Three HIV-1 viral isolates from patients of clinical categories A1, B, and C3 were transmitted to peripheral blood mononuclear cells and tested for production of p24 antigen and syncytium formation in the absence and in the presence of either TFO A or a control oligodeoxynucleotide of randomized sequence. No p24 antigen or syncytia were detected for up to 30 days when TFO A was added to the cells. Viability of the cells was found not to be affected by the drugs compared to controls within 2 weeks. Analysis of viral DNA synthesis by PCR for the LTR and gag gene indicated no DNA signal, suggesting that TFO A affects viral replication before formation of a DNA provirus. Measurements of the stability of TFO A indicate a half-life of about 2 hr. A two-dimensional computer fold analysis of TFO A suggested a self-complementary hairpin-loop configuration with GC-rich stems and single-stranded 5' and 3' ends. Since intracellular triplex formation may not be an efficient process, the observed inhibitory effect may be due to a direct inhibition of the RT and RNase H enzyme activities by the oligodeoxynucleotide. However, a triple-helix effect on the incoming RNA may play a role as well.